Cigarette aligning device



Jan. 30, 1934. E, D. SMITH CIGARETTE ALIGNING DEVICE Filed Feb. l, 1933 2 Shees-Sheec l llllllllllllllllllhllll I ff f M ATTORNEY I ,Il

Jan. 30, Ev D' SMITH CIGARETTE ALIGNI NG DEVICE Filed Feb. 1, 1953 2 sheets-sheet '2 F162 jg @Maf/2% ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 30, 1934 ITE@ STTES PATENT OFFICE American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application February l, 1933. Serial No. 654,699

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improved cigarettecollectors or catchers for continuous-rod cigarette machines, its main object being to collect cork-tipped or similar cigarettes issuing from the cut-oil' of the cigarette machine at high speed, in two-individual rows with the tips of each row allv pointing in the same direction.

To accomplish-these objects, the cigarettes are delivered by the cut-off to a pair of fast-running parallel transfer belts which grip the cigarettes between them andthus propel the same, in the received position but separated longitudinally owing to the greater speed of the transfer belts, into axial compartments of a pocketedcon'veyor in which the cigarettes are automatically aiigned into two separate rows with the tips pointing in opposite directions. The aforesaid pocketed conveyor hasfan-evennumber of compartments and every. second compartment is provided with a transverse partition for positioning the cigarettes on the conveyor. The cigarettes entering the conveyor are delivered to each of the compartments, the alignment of the thus delivered cigarettesremaining the same, until the conveyor has propelled them across a table onto a slow moving beltwhichis mounted at right-angles in respect to-y thel pocketedrconveyor. The cigarettes thus deposited onto the belt are moved axially inward in. their compartments until arrested by the aforesaid divisionwalls or by the end walls of the conveyor, and, after leaving the belt, the cigarette fromeachffoompartment is discharged upon a delivery belt. In this manner, the cigarettes dischargedfromithedivided compartments form one row,v and Ythose discharged from the undivided compartments form a second row upon the de livery belt.

If plain cigarettes are to be made by the cigarettel machine, the partitions in the alternate compartments may be omitted, so that cigarettes are delivered upon the delivery belt in a single row.-

All .the-motions -are derived from the mainshaft of the machine, thus the speed of the pocketed conveyor and the propelling belts are in-.synchronism with that of the cut-off so that onceV the pocketedconveyor is set correctly, its compartments will always register with the incoming cigarettes.

In .the accompanying drawings which form a partr ofithis specification, and in which like characters of referencev indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a top View of the improved cigarette collector;

Fig. 2 is aside elevation off the' same; and

Fig. 3 is an end View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Y Y

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided an endless conveyor having an even number of compartments said compartments extending transversely of said conveyor and alternate compartments having a transverse wall at one end and the other compartments havinga transverse partition between their ends, a table underlying said conveyor means for delivering tipped cigarettes endwise Yon said table into each of said compartments whereby thev cigarettes are pushed sidewise along said table, and anj endless travelling belt on said table moving transversely of said conveyor to engage and movethe cigarettes in each compartment endwise against said 'end walls and partitions respective-` ly, whereby the cigarettes are aligned'ingtwo' separate rows with the tips of the cigarettes-in one row allpointing in-one direction andfthe tips of the cigarettes in the other row all pointing'` in the otherv direction. Iny the best vforms of construction contemplated the belt on" the table is arranged at right angles to the conveyor; These various means and parts may be Widely varied in construction for the particulardevice selected to illustrate the invention is but one of Y many possiblek concrete embodiments of the` same. The invention7 therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and' described.

To the bed 10 of the cigarette machine are fastened a set of brackets 1l and a set of brackets 12. Thebrackets 11 support a driven shaft 13 carrying a pulley 14 which drives an endless a belt 21 disposed therein in alignment with the top of table 19. The belt 21 runs over pulleys 22 and 23 on shafts 24 and 25 respectively. The

driven shaft 13 carries a gear 26 which meshesH with a gear 27 fastened to the shaft 24, thus'4 driving the pulley 22. The shafts 24 and 25 are supported by brackets 28 and 29 carried by the bed 10.

The cigarettes C issuing from the cut-olf enter between endless transfer belts 30 and 31.

The upper transfer belt 30 runs over pulleys 32 and 33 on studs 34 and 35, which are carried by a bracket 36 resting on the bed 10. The stud 34 also carries a spur gear 37. The lower transfer belt 31 runs over a pulley 38 mounted on a stud 39, over pulley 40 on a stud 41, over a drive pulley 42 on shaft 43, and over a tightener pulley 44 on a stud 45. The shaft 43 which is driven by suitable means (not shown), carries a spur gear 46 which drives an intermediate gear 47, thus driving the gear 37 on stud 34.

The cigarettes are delivered endwise on the table 19 into each compartment of the conveyor 15 and pushed laterally over the table 19 onto the belt 2l by the vertical side wall of the next compartment. In this manner the cigarettes, while being pushed across the belt 21, are moved axially inward by the belt until they stop against the partitions 48, or one of the end walls 49, according to whether the cigarette happens to be in an undivided or in a divided-compartment. Since belt 21 runs at a slow speed, it permits the cigarettes to stop gently against the aforesaid partitions, thus eliminating the possibility of dam- .aging the ends oi the cigarettes. 1

The conveyor 15 and the transfer belts 30 and 31 are so timed with reference to the cut-off that a cigarette is fed into each compartment of the conveyor as the compartment registers with the Itransfer belts, therefore the cigarettes proceeding from the cut-oit are alternately placed into a divided and into an undivided compartment, and all cigarettes with the cork-tip pointing in one direction are lined up against the partitions 48 'i .fand all those pointing Vthe other way, against the end walls 49. Thus the cigarettes "C are discharged onto a delivery belt 50, running over a pulley 51 on shaft 52 supported by the bracketsv 11,' on which they form two separate rows.

Vihat is claimed is: 1. In a cigarette collector for tipped cigarettes, the combination with an endless conveyor provided with an even number of open compartments, said compartments extending transverse- `ly of said conveyor, and consisting of alternate compartments having a transverse wall at one end and other compartments having a transverse partition between their ends, a table underlying said conveyor, means for delivering tipped .cigarettes endwise on said table into each of said compartments, whereby the cigarettes are pushed sidewise along said table, and an endless travelling belt on said table moving transversely of said conveyor to engage and move the cigarettes in .'each compartment endwise against said end walls and partitions respectively, whereby the cigarettes are aligned in two separate rows with the tips of the cigarettes in one row all pointing in one direction and the tips of the cigarettes in y,the other row all pointing in the other direction.

2. In a cigarette collector for tipped cigarettes, the combination with an endless conveyor provided with an veven number of open compartments, said compartments extending transversely cf said conveyor, and consisting of alternate compartments having a transverse wall at one end and other compartments having a transverse partition between their ends, a table underlying said conveyor, means for delivering tipped cigarettes endwise on said table into each of said compartments, whereby the cigarettes are pushed sidewise along said table, and an endless travelling belt on said table moving transversely of said conveyor to engage and move the cigarettes in each compartment endwise against said end walls and partitions respectively, whereby the cigarettes are aligned in two separate rows with the tips of the cigarettes in one row allpointing in one direction and the tips of the cigarettes in the other row all pointing in the other direction, said conveyor including an endless belt on which said compartments are fixed.

3. In a cigarette collector for tipped cigarettes, the combination with an endless conveyor provided with an even number of open compartments, said compartments extending transversely of said conveyor, and consisting of alternate compartments having a transverse wall at one end and other compartments having a transverse partition between their ends, a table underlying said conveyor, means for delivering tipped cigarettes endwise on said table into each of said compartments, whereby the cigarettes are pushed sidewise along said table, and an endless travelling belt on said table moving transversely of said conveyor to engage and move the cigarettes in each compartment endwise against said end walls and partitions respectively, whereby the cigarettes are aligned in two separate rows with the tips of the cigarettes in one row all pointing in one direction and the tips of the cigarettes in the other row all pointing in the other direction, said belt being arranged at right angles to said conveyor.

4. In a cigarette collector for tipped cigarettes, the combination with an endless conveyor provided with an even number of open compart- 'i ments, said compartments extending transversely of said conveyor, and consisting of alternate compartments having a transverse wall at one end and other compartments having a transverse partition between their ends, a table underlying conveyor, means for delivering tipped cigarettes endwise on said table into each of said compartments, whereby the cigarettes are pushed sidewise along said table, and an endless travelling belt on said table moving transversely of said conveyor to engage and move the cigarettes in each compartment endwise against said end walls and partitions respectively, whereby the cigarettes are aligned in two separate rows with the tips of the cigarettes in one row all pointing in one direction and the tips of the cigarettes in the other row al1 pointing in the other direction, said means including a pair of cooperating` transfer belts arranged to receive cigarettes therebetween from the cutoff of a cigarette machine and accelerate them to separate them prior to delivery to the compartments of said con- Veyor.

In a cigarette collector, the combination with an endless conveyor provided with open compartments, said compartments extending transversely of said conveyor, a table underlying said conveyor, means for delivering cigarettes endwise on said table inte each of said compartments, whereby the cigarettes are pushed sidewise along said table, an endless travelling belt ELBERON D. SMITH.

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